This lyrebird, whose scientific name is Menura novaehollandiae, lives in the forests of southeastern Australia (from southeastern Victoria to southeastern Queensland). Physically, the two feathers that has in both sides of the tail are amazing (forming the shape of a lyre, which gives the name to the bird). During courtships displays, the male inverts his tail over his head, fanning his feathers to form a silvery white canopy.


But the most special feature of this bird, is its ability to reproduce a huge variety of sounds. Both male and the female can do this, but males sing more often and louder.

Related to their breeding system, they use to do it in winter. Then, females and males defend separated territories (females keeping the youngs). A female may visit several mates before she mates, but it's not known if she's done it more than once. The female lays a single egg and builds a domed nest, often camouflaging it with ferns or moss. The chick spends nine months with its mother before becoming independient.


And finaly, so that you can appreciate the wide variety of sounds it can imitate, I'll put here a video in which it shows all its skill in terms of reproducing so different kinds of sounds (from another bird's one to a photo-camera, as well as an ambulance).